The later commentaries say that the Greater Discourse of Advice to Rāhula (Mahārāhulovāda Sutta) was heard by Rāhula at eighteen, while he was still a . In the discourse the Buddha, going for alms at Sāvatthī, tells Rāhula, who is following behind, that the body and all visible forms are not “self”; Rāhula goes back to sit in the wood, Sāriputta teaches him mindfulness of breathing (the practice of observing the breath), and the Buddha then explains to him in detail such practices as the contemplation of the five elements, earth, water, fire, air and space. Pali Canon
More sources (1)
Different Accounts
Rāhula's age at his going forth: the later commentaries of the Southern tradition and the Buddha biographies Puyao jing and Fangguang da zhuangyan jing give seven; the Buddha biography Fo benxing ji jing gives six, and notes another view of fifteen. Taishō Canon
More differences between accounts (2)
Conversion to a year after the Awakening: Rāhula's going forth is variously placed in Year 2, around Year 6, or Year 12 after the Awakening, so his eighteenth year falls around Year 13, Year 17 or Year 23; this year is only one of the possibilities.
This discourse is found in Majjhima Nikāya 62 of the Southern tradition and in the Chinese Ekottarika Āgama; the age “eighteen” is found only in the later commentaries.
Dating
Year 13 after the Awakening (one of the possible years), the Buddha aged forty-seven; “eighteen” is given by the later commentaries, and the conversion to a year after the Awakening is converted from age, so the year is uncertain.
Related Entries
- Year
- Places
- People
- Discourses
Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
This event is found only in the sutras and Vinaya of one school. Recorded by one school.
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Commentarial dating (the canonical texts give no date; later commentaries record it); converted from the Buddha's age (reckoned from the Buddha's age). Time precision: year uncertain.
Sources
- Pali Canon巴利 MN 62:1.2–2.2
- 大正藏大正藏 T02 no.125 p.581c
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 MN-a，§107，PTS 3.127
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 AN-a，§210，PTS 1.259
- Pali Canon巴利 MN 62:1.2
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 MN-a，§107
- 巴利註解書巴利註釋 AN-a，§210
- 大正藏大正藏 T03 no.186 p.536c
- 大正藏大正藏 T03 no.187 p.616a
- 大正藏大正藏 T03 no.190 p.906b
- 大正藏大正藏 T03 no.190 p.909c